Hewitt and Short End Season on High Note in Vegas!
The final round of the Monster Energy Supercross Series seems to always be filled with drama and this year’s version didn’t disappoint; championship outcomes were on the line and track conditions were very challenging. Coach Seiji personal training clients #65 Hunter Hewitt and #29 Andrew Short both ended their SX seasons with strong performances to end their campaigns on a high note.
#65 One Industries/Suzuki privateer Hunter Hewitt has performed admirably all season, consistently running up front and chalking up top 10’s. He would continue this at Vegas, fighting off a determined field and battling the slippery track surface. Hunter would emerge in the top 10 in the East Coast main event and put in consistent laps to hold his position; he came under heavy fire late in the race but remained focused and determined to reap the benefits of his good start. Hunter earned 8th place at the checkers and would finish the season in 10th place overall. Coach Seiji is very proud of Hunter’s accomplishments; his privateer effort combined with coming back from double femur surgery has been a huge challenge and speaks volumes about his and his team’s determination.
#29 Red Bull/KTM Factory Racing rider Andrew Short has faced the obstacles of developing and racing an all-new bike with a first ever 350cc engine. His tireless work ethic and careful management of both training and lifestyle has produced results that show how difficult it is for a team to introduce and adapt such a radically different bike platform to the most competitive supercross class in recent history. Andrew’s Vegas performance continued the season long pattern of accepting and overcoming these challenges. The veteran rider gated well in his heat race and seemingly had an easy transfer to the main well in hand. Andrew’s rear wheel skipped to the outside in a turn where it hit a supporting structure causing a rear flat, sending him to the LCQ with a bad gate pick. Andrew started the LCQ on the far outside but would make the best out of a bad situation, quickly moving to the lead and winning the LCQ by a comfortable margin. This sent him to the main with another bad gate pick; he would round the first lap of the main event in 14th. Andrew used the long lap times and solid fitness to his advantage as he consistently picked off riders over the course of the 20 lap race. Andrew’s charge through the field netted him an amazing 5th place finish at the checkers and he finished the incredibly long SX class season in 6th place overall. Coach Seiji would like to congratulate Andrew and his team for accepting and overcoming the challenges of the new 350 in the most highly competitive class to hit stadiums in years.